What causes car fires?

What causes car fires? Many car fires happen after catastrophic accidents. The impact rips the vehicles apart and oil and gas can catch fire quickly. Those trapped inside may survive the initial crash and then face even greater danger as the vehicle goes up in flames. Just this month, two cars in Texas crashed on a bridge. One of them then fell off of the bridge and caught on fire when it landed. One man lost his life in the crash and others suffered injuries. But things are not always this dramatic. What else could cause a car fire, even if you have not gotten involved in a collision? Some of the more common reasons include:

• Fuel leaking around the tank or within the engine
• Oil leaking in the engine
• A defective engine that overheats when in use
• Wires that short circuit while the vehicle is running
• Wires that spark near flammable materials or fuel

Not only is getting caught in a car fire very dangerous but even trying to put it out can be hazardous. For instance, many people decide to pour water on the engine when it overheats, trying to cool it down before a fire starts. However, doing so can create superheated steam, which can cause serious burns to the head, neck and arms. Drivers are encouraged to let overheated engines slowly cool in the air and to simply remove themselves from car fires, rather than trying to put them out. Burn injuries can lead to disfigurement that lasts for life. They may lead to a disability. These types of catastrophic injuries are very costly and you need to know what options you have if this happens to you.